ECM 2026 o Fred Hersch

Fred Hersch on the Steinway D grand piano in Freiburg's historical merchants' hall on Münsterplatz.

Among the great jazz pianists of our time, Fred Hersch has occupied a special position for years: not only is he himself a "living legend" (The New Yorker), he has also had a decisive influence on an entire generation of pianists as a teacher, from Brad Mehldau to Sullivan Fortner and Jason Moran. Hersch's distinctive touch and impressionistic tone have often been compared to Bill Evans. At the same time, he likes to incorporate elements of classical music.

Pure solo performance also requires a special state of immersion, especially when it is full of risks, avoids self-certainties and is not a virtuoso treat from one's own comfort zone. And it is precisely such a rare solo piano work of solitary class that 68-year-old Fred Hersch has achieved. He is not a pianist who captures his listeners with surging pathos. His playing, which seems cool and controlled on the surface, quickly turns into an enormously rich sensory magic when listened to attentively. In addition to his own pieces, he also decided to perform three classics in collaboration with producer Manfred Eicher. The title of the album could not be more apt: 'Silent, Listening'.
Michael Engelbrecht, Deutschlandfunk

A raw, nocturnal atmosphere hovers over each of the eleven tracks. Hersch operates more inside the piano, but remains open to influences and developments, exploratory and free, even on standards such as 'Star-Crossed Lovers', which he interprets sparsely and ghostly. [...] He has bared himself, offers surfaces for attack and thus appears more authentic and emotional than ever before.
Reinhard Köchl, Jazzthing